The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-29
THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS.
Preparations for Their State Camp Meeting
at the Exposition Grounds.

The State fair grounds present a curious con-
trast of old and new-of a beginning and an
ending. In one part remain scattered through
the buildings portions of the exhibits that have
not yet been removed. The ground is strewn
with paper, lemon rinds, pasteboard and all the
other debris that gets beneath the feet of the
iostling crowds during fair week Hero and
there men are engaged removing some heavy
piece of machinery other object that has
served its purpose at that point.
In another part of the grounds, within the
track, where the grass shows the least evidence
of last weeks proceedings. village Of canvas is
rising up, in preparation for the camp meeting
of the Seventh-day Adventsts One who saw
the place yesterday, with the men putting up
tents and moving the heavier articles, while the
women were getting their bedding and pro-
visions under shelter and tidying their canvas
residences, all during the miserable drizzle that
WAS more exasperatinG than a brisk shower
would have been, might have easily been remind
ed of the landing of the Pilgrim fathers. In fact
these people came with much the same intense
religious feeling that characterized the Pill
erims Their church name comes from two of
their senets. One is that Saturday, Seventh
day, should be observed as the Sabbath. The
other is that the second advent of Christ is near
at hand, though they fix no exact time for the
momentous event.
This sect holds that the world has reached the
IaOer-
nacle." which will be of uncertain but brief ex-
tent, and that the coming of Christ will bring
the period to a close. They hold, therefore, that
all his followers should be n constant readiness
for his coming, and working earnestly to
bring mankind to ther views. Their work is
extremely well systematized. aud one feature
OF their system is thorough preparation
for everything The present object Of the as
semblage is TO prepare for the camp meeting
which begins on Oct and continues to Oct. H.
The preliminary gathering is called a workers
meeting
In Indiana the sect has about fifty churches
and twelve hundred members. They are at
present building a church on Central avenue in
this city which they expect to have ready for
cupancy before winter sets in. The meeting at
the fair grounds is a State affair. Preliminary
to the camp meeting proper. as part OF the
workers meeting, conference will be held for
the transaction of the business of the church
in this State. It's session will begin to-day.
The tents are arranged in squares about
large tent which is designed for religious
chip. Il is 74x1l4 feet in extent There are
about forty dwelling tents up and the number
will be increased to more than hundred. At
large tents one of which is used grocery
and the other as boarding house. There IS
also n large tent in the northwestern part of the
encampment which will be used for childrens
meetings Among the prominent members OF
the sect no are in attendance from other States
ia Elder Stair. of Chicago; Elder Underwood. of
Ohio, and several other noted memb ers are TO
arrive hereafter.
The members of the sect feel that they have
been placed at a disadvantage in the eyes of the
world by the blending of the Prohibition move
ment and the Sunday movement. They are
ardent temperance workers but conscien-
tiously opposed to the observance of Sunday as
the Sabbath. Their temperance principles
somewhat extreme. Beginning with ardent
spirits, their discountenanced in every
shape and place, being rarely en-
ployed even for medicinal purposes.
They strenuously oppose the
of tobacco in any form. Tea and coffee dis
countenanced in the teachings of this people,
and are used by but very few. The use of
swines flesh forms part of the diet of this
people; and in support of the hygenc reasons
mon which this abstinence is based. the exam
pie of Israel is quoted, with whom the of
swine as food was prescribed by divine direction
out of regard for their physical well-being. All
highly seasoned aud rich food and excess of
condiments are discarded and replaced by a
more simple dietary. consisting of the varied
products Of the vegetable kingdom.